February 28, 2014

California court: Drivers can use smartphone maps, for now

Unlike talking on a cell phone or texting while driving, a court of appeals rules that using a map app is OK under the law. C/net reports.

Texting or chatting on the phone while driving is illegal in California, but the law seems still to be catching up with technology when it comes to other aspects of smartphone use behind the wheel.

A court of appeals has reversed an earlier court decision that ruled map reading on a cell phone was taboo under the law, according to the Associated Press. The 5th District Court of Appeal said the law currently applies only to talking and texting on mobile devices and doesn't yet have legal language for app use.